Day Ten: "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Tony walked off his jet and was greeted by Pepper. He gently pressed his lips against hers before pulling back. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. For some reason, she didn't look too happy.

"Sorry I took so long. There was a delay," Tony said. "The meeting dragged on and on."

"That's not the problem," Pepper said.

"What's wrong, then?"

"There's somewhere you need to be, Tony."

Unease invaded Tony's body and a million different possibilities ran through his head.

"What do you mean?"

Tony didn't bother knocking. He just went straight into the apartment. There were no signs of a struggle. The police, or Peter, probably got it all organized so Peter could go back. It was a surprise that they let him go back. Maybe it was just temporary so he could pack his things and go to...wherever they were going to send Peter. He was a minor.

This didn't feel like the Parker apartment anymore. It felt hollow. Not to be lived in. Tony made his way to Peter's room and gently pried the door open. The kid was sitting on his bed with his knees pulled up to his chest. There was a suitcase next to his desk. Just like the rest of the house, it felt dead.

"Hey, kiddo," Tony greeted softly. He made his way to the bed but didn't sit, just in case.

Peter nodded silently. His eyes were so dull and clouded over. This wasn't his bright and happy kid. Tony couldn't blame him.

"Can I sit?" Tony gestured to the bed.

Peter nodded again.

Tony sat. He placed a hand on Peter's knee. "Pepper told me what happened."

Peter shrugged.

"I'm sorry, Underoos. I didn't know," Tony said. "If I did-"

"I called you," Peter finally said. His voice was hoarse and lifeless.

"What?"

"I called you." He looked up. The bags under his eyes were concerning. "But you didn't answer. You didn't come."

"Peter-"

Peter sighed deeply. "Why should I be surprised? You're always so busy, meetings and all that. I don't mean anything to you."

Tony knew that Peter didn't know what he was saying. He knew he didn't mean it. It still hurt and Tony's heart throbbed. He gently rubbed the kid's knee.

"I care about you, kiddo," Tony said, keeping his voice soft. "If my phone was with me, I would've answered immediately. I'll always pick up for you."

"Not this time," Peter scoffed.

"Peter…"

Loss did terrible things to people. Loss filled people with grief and anger and depression and so much more. Tony knew this well. He had times in his life where he felt this way. Tony also knew that Peter knew this feeling. He lost both parents, his uncle and now he lost his aunt.

"Let me help you," Tony said, almost pleading. "Come live with me. You've always been welcome and May would probably want you to be safe there instead of in the system."

Peter's glare hurt. Tony couldn't stand seeing the kid like this. He was perhaps the best kid Tony knew. He deserved so much more than the world was giving him. The kid needed a break. Tony wanted nothing more than to help.

"I know you're angry that I didn't answer your call. I don't blame you, but you need somewhere safe to live. I can provide you with that."

Peter looked away. Tears started to well in his once lively eyes. He held his head in his hands and started sobbing. Tony hesitantly pulled him into a hug. Peter didn't pull away. Instead, he pushed himself into the hug and sobbed harder.

"I'm here for you, Spider-baby. I won't leave you."

Although Peter was angry with Tony in the beginning he slowly forgave him for not answering him when he called. He supposed it wasn't really his fault. He needed someone to lash out on though and he couldn't lash out on the person who killed his aunt because she ran. He had no idea where she went.

Peter wanted to find her. He didn't know where to start but he wanted to find her. He needed Aunt May's killer dead.

It was hard to do when he kept having constant nightmares and was screaming himself awake. When that happened, Tony immediately went to his room to help calm him down. There were some nights where Peter refused to sleep, terrified of what was to come in his nightmares. Tony was willing to stay up with him despite his protests.

When he went out for patrols they didn't seem as fun as they used to be either. He used to love helping the everyday person. Now, he felt it was dull and he hated that. He blamed the fact that while he was out, there was one person he was looking out for. When he didn't see said person, he went back to the Tower disappointed and worn out.

He wished he could open up to Tony and talk to him. Tony had said it would help him. Pepper also told him that. She said she was there for him too, not just Tony. They were a family. No one was going to throw him out on the street just because he was in pain and mourning. Peter choked up and cried during those conversations.

He was scared to talk to them about his guilt and shame of not being there for May. He was Spider-Man. He was supposed to protect people. He was supposed to make sure no one died or suffered. And yet, his aunt died and he did nothing about it. He should've been able to be there for her. He loved her and now she was gone.

During nights where Peter refused to sleep, he also stayed away from Tony. He didn't want to lose him. He loved him just as much as May. He needed Tony and he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he died. That would be too much. There was already too much pressure.

One night after another nightmare (he didn't wake up screaming this time so Tony didn't come), he decided to go on a patrol. He put his curfew aside. It didn't matter. He needed fresh air and he didn't want to bother Tony or Pepper. They needed some time to themselves.

Nothing was happening that night. Peter sat on a building near an empty parking lot and stared down below. He should've brought a snack. That was another problem. He hadn't been eating as much recently. Tony said it was normal in some cases. He tried to eat but it was hard. He only threw up a few hours later.

While Peter sat on the roof, his heartbeat almost stopped. A familiar woman, the one he had seen in the camera footage, the one who had murdered his aunt, walked along the street. She was dressed casually.

Peter stood and watched her closely. There was a chance she was going to break into the closed store nearby. His heartbeat accelerated. Everything seemed to shut off and the only thing he saw was that woman. That sick, sick woman.

"Activate Instant Kill."

That voice did not sound like his own. Who was this? Peter was sure he said it but...it did not sound like Peter Parker.

He jumped down from the roof and landed in front of the woman. She shrieked and stepped back. She scowled and looked disgusted. Then she looked terrified, like she finally realized the situation. All Peter saw was red.

"Wha-"

Peter rapid-fired webs at her chest. The force was hard enough to make her collapse on her back. Peter made sure to hold back, just the slightest bit, so she could know what real pain was like. He wanted her to know the same fear his aunt felt when she died. She needed to suffer like his aunt did. Like he was.

He circled her and fired a taser web at her arms. Her body convulsed and she screamed. Just like how his aunt screamed. Like how he did during his nightmares. He didn't give her a chance to stand. He switched his settings to normal webs and shot at her arms and legs so she couldn't move. She cornered his aunt. Now she knew what it felt like.

There was a strange feeling in his chest as he continued his attack. Almost a sense of discomfort. Then he remembered what he was doing. If the police couldn't get justice for his aunt, he would. He was Spider-Man. He brought justice to people.

He…

Peter gritted his teeth. He needed to get this over with. He taser webbed her again to paralyze her. Then he straddled the woman's waist and started punching her head. His punches seemed stronger in Instant Kill. He kept reminding himself over and over that she deserved this. She deserved this, not his aunt. Not himself. Not other people she probably killed in the past.

"Deactivating Instant Kill."

Peter stopped mid-punch. His eyes widened. He did not give that order. He glared.

"Activate Instant Kill," he growled. When he got no response, he gritted out, "Karen. Now."

"No, Peter," Karen said. She almost sounded upset. "I won't activate Instant Kill."

Strong arms grabbed him and forced him up off the woman he was mercilessly beating just seconds ago. He started to get dragged away. He struggled and tried to pull free.

"Get off of me! Get off!"

"That's enough, Peter! That's enough!"

Peter froze. He knew that voice. He was whipped around, still in the strong arms, and saw Tony. His mentor (and so much more) pulled his mask off. Peter hadn't seen Tony look so angry before. No, he looked more anguished than angry. Peter's heart sank.

"Wh...What was I…?"

"This isn't going to make you feel any better, kiddo," Tony said, shaking his head. "You're so much better than this. You are not a killer, Peter."

Peter hesitantly looked behind him and stared down. The one he was desperate to find and make her pay was miraculously still alive. Her body was in poor shape and her head was bleeding. Her jaw and nose were broken but she was still alive. He looked back at Tony. Suddenly, he felt exhausted.

Tears slipped out of his eyes. He started sobbing. He gripped onto Tony. Tony wrapped his arms around him and held him close.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Tony! I- I didn't…"

"I know, Webs. I know." Tony ran his hand through Peter's hair.

"I- I just wanted...I wanted my aunt-"

"I know. But this isn't the way to go about it," Tony whispered softly. "You're not a killer. You're better than that. So much better."

Peter kept sobbing. "Help me...Please help me, Tony…"

"It'll be okay, kiddo." Tony kissed the top of his head. "I already said I'm not going to leave you."

Peter didn't know what happened next. He passed out in Tony's arms.

The next day he woke up in his room. He went down to the living room where Tony and Pepper were sitting on the couch watching the news. The woman from the night before was taken to the hospital and was reported as the one who killed Peter Parker's aunt. The police were going to deal with her at a later date.

The news didn't clarify how the woman got so injured.

Author's Note: Annnd this was another day I was looking forward to sharing.

I read an interesting comment somewhere (I think it was Youtube on the video where Instant Kill is first activated) where someone said it'd be interesting to see Peter as a villain and use Instant Kill. Tbh, I can kinda see it if he's consumed in hatred and grief and revenge, especially when it comes to May and even Tony, I think he'd lose himself. But then he'd (hopefully) snap out of it and come back to his senses, like he does here. But I think, depending on how poor his mental state would be, he'd need someone to guide him.

Also about this Instant Kill. Because we don't see the one in his "first suit" (the one before Infinity War) I just made some assumptions on how it'd work. Which is to say, it strengthens his web attacks and also gives his super strength even more power. I would've put the "metal arms" someone described from the suit in IW, but like I said in the first chapter, nothing I write is related to that so he doesn't have that option. That's just my take on it anyway.

The point is, the kid loses his shit and needs help from Tony.

That's all for now. I'll see ya'll in the next chapter.

Thanks for reading!

~Kurosaki